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Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region (PPGMR) and the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center have trained three new community HIV testing counselors.

Community testing counselors are supervised by PPGMR Health Educator Jennifer Warren and PPGMR Director of Education, Elokin CaPece. Ms. CaPece is certified as a Tennessee Master Trainer for the HIV Prevention Counseling and Testing Course.

The new HIV testing counselors, Mark Brown, Dana Fitzgerald and Felicia Oglesby will provide HIV counseling and testing at the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center (MGLCC) at 892 So. Cooper Street and other locations. MGLCC offers the only after-hours free HIV testing in Memphis each Wednesday night from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The new HIV testing counselors are certified by the State of Tennessee and have also completed a counseling training program created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They are qualified to provide confidential rapid HIV testing and education and counseling about HIV prevention.

Free community HIV counseling and testing provides many benefits to our community. When individuals know how HIV is spread and know their HIV status, they can better protect themselves and their partners. Early and frequent testing for HIV also allows HIV-positive individuals to begin viral suppressive treatments sooner, allowing them to lead longer and healthier lives.

Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region (PPGMR), founded in 1938, is an affiliate of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. PPGMR’s mission is to ensure broad public access to reproductive and related health care through clinic services, education, advocacy and community partnerships in serving 42 counties in West Tennessee, North Mississippi and East Arkansas.